Alabama for free or a more elite school that is less than free-ride?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, not entirely true though the bigger advantage is for lower-income first generation kids. There seem to be lots of people who (1) want to justify their choices to opt for a lower priced school or (2) are just angry/jealous at the higher priced elite schools. One can do fine at many institutions, but on average, elite schools pay off across the board, not always, not for everyone but on average.

Links please. None of the research I've seen supports your assertion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting story on NPR tonight on this very issue, though targetted at low-income kids. But Caroline Hoxby at Stanford noted that by not choosing an elite school, her research estimates that one would be giving up about $500k in the course of a lifetime. Something to think about though I know others disagree.

Of course that's coming from someone at Stanford. Expensive school graduates and the schools need to justify the expense. It's like saying that a BMW is intrinsically better than a honda when both will get you to the same place.

That is a great analogy! An expensive private school is a BMW and a solid state school is a Honda. Most of us drive Hondas because we don't need all the impressive bells and whistles. You will still get to your destination.

but, how much fun will have before arriving at you destination..lol

[Anonymous]

I had the same offer 10 years ago. Full ride as a National Merit scholar from University of Oklahoma. I chose to pay and go to Cal Berkeley.

Dumb mistake, in retrospect, based on the career I ended up in. I was an engineering major, now teach math. The school would not have mattered.

You have no idea what your career is going to be at 18 though...